photography | anya elise

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June 25, 2012 by Anya Elise

take one || Colorado senior portraits

There comes a time in every photographer’s life, when she will ask her younger sister — a sister who is on the verge of her senior year of high school — to precariously sit herself on a rusted half of an old wagon wheel and pose in such a manner that suggests a carefree, though excited, air of readiness for the future.

Or, you know, because it looks cool.

Elise somehow managed to speed up time and we find ourselves already facing her senior year of high school. I’m pretty sure we’re supposed to have about 12 more years to go before this mile marker. However, she is altogether convinced it is high time to sally forth into her post-high school years and is taking the rest of us along with her. Whether we like it or not.

Here is a small sampling of what we came up with on our first outing to photograph some senior portraits yesterday evening. Yes, “first outing.” One of the perks of being the younger sister to a photographer is getting as many do-overs as you like on such portrait sessions, until you get them just as you want them. One of the perks of being the photographer for such a gal in this scenario is that she pays me in coffee.

More to come!

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May 1, 2012 by Anya Elise

second shooting || Denver wedding photography

Second shooting. The act of shooting second. Being next in line to the throne. Yeah, OK, that has absolutely no relevance to this at all. It’s early, forgive me.

Second shooting is another way to describe the act of assisting a lead photographer at a shoot. The nice thing about what Dan and I have going as partners in A&D Photography, is that we have the support system afforded by a second shooter already built in. It’s like that song “Lean on Me” epitomized in the form of a photography business. (Coincidentally, I once had to dance out a choreographed routine to that song in front of a whole group of people. It was mildly mortifying. Except without the “mildly.” So yeah, just mortifying.)

Not all photographers have that built in partner, however, and so they frequently hire a second shooter. Photographers such as Gino Siller, who hired me to be his photography cohort for a day back in April. It was a great experience, and really interesting and educational to see how another photographer approaches a wedding shoot.

Here are two pictures that I shot that day. There are several other photos over on our A&D Photography site all set and waiting for you.

Thanks for reading, viewing, and stopping by.

Love and coffee to you,

-a.e.

p.s. And Happy May to you! Who would have thunk we’d be five months in to 2012 already!

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April 26, 2012 by Anya Elise

responsibility || photojournalism

“The relationship is about trust and responsibility.”

Craig F. Walker during a talk he gave at the office today to discuss how he approaches his projects, taking photographs, and developing relationships with his photographic subjects.

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April 16, 2012 by Anya Elise

two in three || Craig Walker

A little past 1 p.m. a group gathered in the photo department of The Denver Post newsroom.

This day – Monday, April 16, 2012 – the highest honor in journalism would be awarded. And for the second time in three years, Craig Walker would have that moment of disbelief, elation and awe wash over him.

Craig Walker won his second Pulitzer Prize for feature photography today. In 2010, he won his first.

One of the most deserving people in the world, Craig (shown above, center right) has this demeanor of genuine compassion and humility that he brings to every assignment he gets – even the seemingly small ones. Though he has been honored with many international awards in recent years, he hasn’t lost his center. He hasn’t lost that humility.

The photo essay he won for today told the story of a veteran of the Iraq war who suffers from PTSD. The veteran, Scott Ostrom (center left above), joined us in the newsroom for the announcement and immediate celebration that followed. One of the greatest testaments to Craig’s success is how his subjects speak of him. They respect him, they care for him, and they are truly excited to see him succeed in such a large capacity.

So, congratulations, Craig!! We are all so proud and excited for you.

Please check out Craig Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning photo essay: Welcome Home.

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April 3, 2012 by Anya Elise

staying, doing || tiny Tuesday thoughts

“The staying and doing it, in spite of everything.”

from Wild by Cheryl Strayed

This sums up my journey with starting a photography business thus far, almost perfectly, though Ms. Strayed isn’t speaking about business at all.

If you’ve ever tried to do something large, and unknowable, and full of muchness, then you know this feeling.

I suspect this feeling has made itself known to each of us at some point, in a specific, individual way.

And I suppose one way to define the successes and the failures in our lives is by whether or not we ultimately stay and do that unknowable, large thing.

In spite of everything.